Muhammad Ali called Wednesday for political leaders to use their positions to bring about a better understanding of Islam, which he said had been distorted by terrorist groups.
“I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world,” Ali said in a statement to NBC News “regarding presidential candidates proposing to ban Muslim immigration to the US.”
{mosads}“True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so called Islamic Jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion,” Ali added.
“Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is,” Ali said.
Ali’s statement does not mention Donald Trump, but was clearly motivated by the GOP presidential candidate’s call for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to the United States.
The world heavyweight champion said Muslims must speak out against violence committed in the name of their faith.
“We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda,” he said. “They have alienated many from learning about Islam. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody.”
Ali converted to Islam after winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games.
He was outspoken about his religious and political beliefs throughout his career, and was stripped of the heavyweight championship when he refused to serve in the Vietnam War on the grounds that it violated his faith.
Trump drew attention when he tweeted in response to President Obama’s prime-time speech Sunday night: “Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?”
The question was considered to be especially egregious because Trump has touted his friendship with Ali in the past.
Earlier this year, the businessman shared a photo of the two men together when Trump accepted the Muhammad Ali Award at a charity event put on by the boxer.
Trump has had a series of less-friendly interactions with another notable Muslim sports star, basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Abdul-Jabbar on Wednesday said that “Trump is ISIS’s greatest triumph.”
The two feuded earlier this year when the basketball star wrote a column critical of Trump’s campaign, and the businessman responded with a handwritten note saying, “you don’t have a clue about life and what has to be done to make America great again.”
– Updated at 7:52 p.m.